Mal Bernhardt
12 October 2026
57m 21s
Vaseem Khan's The Edge of Darkness (2026)
00:00
57:21
Out of Order Book Club
In this episode of Season 3, Mal will be taking a look at the 6th book of the Malabar House series which focuses on Persis Wadia the first female detective, in 1950s post-Independence and post Partition India.
We'll be taking a look at the questions thrown up about both Persis Wadia's personal and professional relationships. What is Sam Wadia like? What is Archie like (or is he even worth it)? Persis Wadia has been successful in the previous novels, however, does it matter if you don't know the details? On top of all this, what questions are thrown up by setting the book in an area of India that is 'mysterious' to many people inside and outside of India (including Persis Wadia)? Do any of these questions stop someone reading it out of order? Join me.
Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com
Content: I think a couple of mild swear words slipped through.
Useful links and helpful sources:
Vaseem Khan's website: Hopefully, this link should take you through to Khan's blog post of Nagaland and an overview of its history in relation to The Edge of Darkness. Worth a read if you found what I said even vaguely interesting! Actually, it's worth reading even if you didn't, as you're getting the author's perspective on this area!
Murder Junction podcast: This podcast is hosted by Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee. I didn't mention this in the episode which is a massive oversight on my account, as Khan and Mukherjee have been podcasting regularly throughout their crime writing careers (I don't know where they get the time!!) Anyway, it's worth a listen for fans of true crime and crime writing. Note: I didn't want to listen to the episode about this novel as I was worried it would influence my content, but it's on my to-do list!
Hodder Books series - Vaseem Khan diversity in literature
The Guardian: Vaseem Khan becomes first person of colour to chair Crime Writers’ Association (2023)
HIF Interview: The Malabar House Series
Rosemary Erickson Johnsen's Historical Crime Ficton: A Cushion on the Seat (2022)